Kenya’s Dairy Board and the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) have signed a new partnership to double the country’s milk production by 2030 while tightening safety standards across the value chain.
The memorandum of understanding, signed Sunday, sets out structured cooperation to expand production from about 8 billion litres annually to over 18 billion litres in line with the National Dairy Master Plan projections.
Dr. Kimutai Maritim, Acting Managing Director of Kenya Dairy Board, said the agreement supports the country’s wider economic goals. The partnership builds on the MoreMilk 2 project, which improved sector sustainability and safety standards through collaboration between regulators and vendors.
Kenya’s dairy industry is the largest in East Africa, generating 5.33 billion litres annually. It contributes 4.5 percent to national GDP and accounts for more than 12 percent of agricultural output, making it a key driver of rural livelihoods and food security.
The new agreement will expand dairy programmes to more countries, focusing on genetics, feed innovations, and modern production practices.
It will also explore export opportunities in Middle Eastern markets while addressing infrastructure gaps that affect smallholder farmers’ productivity and market access.
Kenya’s high milk consumption underpins the plan. The country leads the region at 92 litres per person annually, and population growth is expected to push demand even higher.
The National Dairy Master Plan projects that consumption will double by 2030, creating new market opportunities.
Currently, over 50 percent of Kenya’s milk reaches consumers through informal markets, which provide vital income for youth and women and keep prices accessible.
The formal sector, covering about 20 percent of distribution, includes cooperatives, processors, and retail networks with stronger quality controls.
ILRI’s Director General, Appolinaire Djikeng, said the partnership will close value chain gaps by combining ILRI’s five decades of expertise in animal health, genetics, feed systems, and marketing solutions with the Dairy Board’s regulatory oversight.
The agreement highlights inclusive growth strategies that support smallholder farmers while meeting international quality and safety standards.
It also reflects ILRI’s 2024–2030 strategy, to improve the livelihoods of 300 million people in low and middle-income countries through sustainable livestock solutions.
The dairy sector’s importance goes beyond economics. As Kenya pushes towards food and nutrition security, milk production plays a vital role in both incomes and dietary diversity for rural and urban communities.
The partnership will apply advanced research alongside regulatory frameworks, creating scalable dairy development models for similar economies.
It positions Kenya as a regional leader in sustainable dairy innovation while advancing its food security priorities.
